pulmonary infection of lophomonas blattarum as a co-infection with covid-19 in patients with severe pneumonia

Background: lophomonas blattarum is a newly reported opportunistic protozoan parasite that may cause pulmonary infections. co-morbidity of this parasite and pulmonary viral infections, such as covid-19 may exacerbate their pathological effects. this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of l. blattarum infection in patients with covid-19 infection. methods: in this study, mini bronchoalveolar lavage (mini-bal) samples were taken from 93 patients with acute pneumonia due to covid-19 infection in 2021. the samples were subjected to microscopic examination for the presence of l. blattarum, following smear preparation and staining with two specific methods of giemsa and papanicolao. results: the patients included 49 males and 44 females with a mean age of 68.8 ± 14.8 years. of the specimens studied after staining, only one specimen (1.08%) was positive for l. blattarum. it was found in a patient with diabetic underlying disease.conclusion: it was concluded that the infection of l. blattarum in patients with severe covid-19 pneumonia was low. however, the presence of this parasite in this group of patients should not be neglected. this is the first report of pulmonary infection with this protozoan parasite in zanjan province.